Telangana Government's "HARA BAHARA" Afforestation Project: A Step Towards a Greener Future

The Telangana Government’s “HARA BAHARA” afforestation project is an ambitious initiative to plant 50 lakh trees in 12000 hectares of forest area across all 33 districts of Telangana. The project is being implemented in partnership with Marut drones, who will be using ‘seedcopter’ drones to conduct aerial seeding.

Aerial seeding is a process of dispersing seeds from the air over a large area. This is a much faster and more efficient way to plant trees than traditional methods, and it is especially useful in areas that are difficult to access or that have been degraded.

The HARA BAHARA project is part of the Telangana government’s Haritha Haram program, which aims to increase the state’s forest cover to 33% by 2023. The program has been a huge success so far, and over 200 crore trees have been planted since it was launched in 2015.

The HARA BAHARA project is a significant step forward in the Telangana government’s efforts to achieve its afforestation goals. The project will help to increase the state’s green cover, which will have a number of benefits, including:

1. Improved air and water quality
2. Reduced soil erosion
3. Increased biodiversity
4. Mitigation of climate change
5. Creation of jobs and economic opportunities

Hari Chandana’s contributions to the Haritha Haram program

Hari Chandana, the former District Collector and Magistrate of Narayanpet district, played a key role in the implementation of the Haritha Haram program in the district. Under her leadership, the district planted over 1 crore trees in just two years.

Chandana’s innovative approach to afforestation included:

1. Mobilizing the local community to participate in the program
2. Using social media to raise awareness about the importance of trees
3. Planting trees in areas that were difficult to access, such as hilly terrain and riverbanks
4. Promoting the use of native tree species

Honouring her service to the community and her strong inclination towards the betterment of the environment, SpeakIn recently recognized Hari Chandana Dasari’s efforts in the first edition of ‘India’s Distinguished IAS Officers’. She was conferred an award for excellence in ESGs, SDGs and Climate Change.